International Media Watch of news headlines and current affairs reports about Romania

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Romania, U.S. to soon start negotiations on missile defense

2010-05-12
BUCHAREST, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A round of Romanian-U.S. technical talks has taken place in Bucharest on Romania's inclusion in the U.S. missile defense system in Europe, the Romanian Foreign Ministry said in a press release Wednesday.

The agenda of the talks on Tuesday included an exchange of views on technical and judicial aspects of the missile defense sector, the release said.

According to the ministry, the two sides will start soon the official negotiations on the issue.

Romania's Supreme Defence Council, the country's top decision-making body on security and defense issues, decided on Feb. 4 to participate in the development of the U.S. missile defense system in Europe and host components on its territory.

NATO chief Andres Fogh Rasmussen said last week in Bucharest that the missile defense system will be a priority at the Lisbon summit in November, while Romanian high officials stressed to him that hosting of some elements of the missile defense system by Romania will bring an added security not only to the national territory, but to all the Southeastern European states.